Football: 'I only signed up because it's Tel'

Nick Barmby signed on at Elland Road yesterday and immediately underlined the pulling power that Leeds United have acquired with Terry Venables' appointment as manager a month ago.

England midfielder Barmby revealed that only one man could have prised him away from Liverpool - his former Spurs and England boss, Venables.

The Leeds squad is not short of true believers already, after a successful pre-season build- up and some eyeopening training sessions.

Mark Viduka and Harry Kewell will also readily sing their new manager's praises, having played under him for Australia, and another Aussie, skipper Paul Okon, agreed terms yesterday on a three-year deal subject to a medical today.

There may even be other admirers on the way as Leeds officials are due to meet with a party from Brazilian World Cup winner Kleberson's club, Atletico Paranaense, in London today.

The 23-year-old midfielder is so keen on a transfer to the Premiership his own representatives are believed to have instructed a Manchester-based sports lawyer to try to secure a switch to the Elland Road club.

According to reports in Brazil, officials from Kleberson's Brazil team-mate Ricardinho's club, Corinthians, are also in London to talk to Leeds officials.

Venables' reputation clearly goes before him and Barmby believes he owes more to him than any other figure in the game.

The versatile 28-year-old Yorkshireman, who signed for a cut-price £2.75million from Liverpool on a four-year contract, explained: 'I was happy at Liverpool. It had to be something major, something special to tempt me away from there.'

Barmby was part of a Venables Spurs side that reached an FA Youth Cup semi-final against Ryan Giggs' young Manchester United and he added: 'Nobody has had a bigger influence on my career. He had me as an apprentice and taught me my trade. I learned a heck of a lot from him.

'But you can ask any player who ever worked under him and they'll tell you the same. Managementwise he's second to none.'

In Barmby, Venables has landed a player who can perform across the midfield, can and has adapted as a wing back when required, and even played as a striker at Middlesbrough.

Venables said: 'His appetite for the game has never waned.

'He's intelligent and hungry for knowledge, a team player and a good passer of the ball who can also score a goal for you.'

Hull-born Barmby will also seek to reassert himself in Sven Goran Eriksson's plans after injury ended his hopes of a World Cup place.

He was already playing in pain during the famous 5-1 demolition of Germany and the mid-season surgery on the floating bone in his ankle ruled him out until March. It cost Barmby his England dream as well as a Liverpool berth.

Leeds are hopeful that Jonathan Woodgate, who needed eight stitches in his knee at Ibrox on Wednesday, will recover in time for tomorrow week's opener against Manchester City.